Life Out of a Suitcase

From plane to hotel room, to cab, to hotel room, to plane, to cruise cabin, back on a plane, to hotel room – it's been life out of a suitcase for the past four months.



June saw the filming of the Ladbrokes Poker Million V heats. With a range of ways to win one of the 72 televised seats, these were still fiercely sought after once Ladbrokes had again added to the prize money. This time, it was a massive $1 million. As always, big names were up against online qualifiers and celebrities. Another new move this year, and one of which the poker-playing audience approves, is that both the semifinals and finals will be shown live, Dec. 13-15, on Sky Sports2. Televised poker is a great tool for new and experienced players alike. It tells the whole story of how players won and lost their chips, and the insightful and amusing commentary from Jesse May and Roy "The Boy" Brindley is entertaining. With three previous winners Donnacha O'Dea, Jimmy White, and Tony Jones all playing, could this year see a double champion? Yet to be fully aired, the results, as always, have been a well-kept secret.



With no rest, I was then on a plane to Monte Carlo to begin a new venture, hosting private poker events. First, it was a private chartered cruise around the Mediterranean, a week of poker tuition ending with a two-day event handicapped according to experience. Players ranged from those who had learnt the game that afternoon to professional players, including cruise host Tony Bloom.



From there, it was on to Vegas for the World Series of Poker, where I acted as the host for 84 Ladbrokes qualifiers. With a little over two weeks before they arrived, I entered two events, finishing 15th in the $5,000 shorthanded event. Having watched two good friends, Julian Gardner and Padraig Parkinson, reach final tables, I was disappointed not to complete the hat trick.



Ladbrokes was among a group of sites that had lounges just outside the tournament room, offering food and entertainment to players and guests. We had created our own little Europe with a darts board, pool table, and a chance to play against Steve Davis, and daily quizzes and our own gold bracelet events for both men and women. The security guard at the door was officially the most overworked person, fending off the constant requests for entry after passersbys heard all of the activity inside.



All too soon, it came to an end, and I have had time to reflect on how such a hectic few months ran so well for me.



Living life out of a suitcase is a given for poker players. Two people, and this is the reason for this story, can be credited with making the past few months a pleasure. Steve Bennett, or "Spiva," a good friend throughout all of my gambling life of 25 years, and my son Tom were my backbone. Their hard work enabled me to fully concentrate on what I had to do.

I have always been the type of person who considers his glass to be half full and not half empty, and with friends and family around me as good as these, I truly am a lucky man.